Taming You

by KitKatKittyKat007

Without warning, Korra is kidnapped and held prisoner by Equalists. She will stop at nothing for her freedom, and Amon will do any means necessary to control her. M for later chapters.

4. Chapter 4

I just want to thank you all for all the reviews. They've been nothing but a big support and a huge pat on the back for all my work put into this.

Seriously you guy thank you so much, and much more for letting me know I'm not the only loving this pairing.

Enjoy :D!

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Ferkin—who Korra was to refer to when presented to him—was sitting in a chair with a bag of ice over his head, fortunately, in a new pair of clothes, at the time when Korra and Amon paid him a very surprising visitation in his rather small, yet warming, quarters. From the way he was looking at her—especially when she was still wearing his clothes—the daggers in his glare were so sharp she practically felt their cut through her soul.

Amon greeted the man kindly, putting on a cordial air. Ferkin, in turn, did the same, with more difficulty.

As she watched the man attempt to stand—even after Amon insisted him not to—Korra failed to notice until now how extravagantly tall the man was until he finally stood erect. He could have probably been taller than Amon. Aside from the height he was also a character of a handsome demeanor with the blooming red hair in similar uniqueness. With a face like that, this man would have no problem looking spiffy in a suit than in the clothes Korra was currently accommodating.

"Our sojourner has something she needs to say to you, Ferkin." Amon moved Korra an inch closer to Ferkin with a rather gentle push to her back. "It won't take too long. The young avatar has been instructed to fully express her penitence for her previous rudeness."

The man nodded once; face brimming with dubiety, as he turned down to the imposition that was his pro tempore assignment.

If under different circumstances, if any, at all, Korra would still not know where to begin with her penitence. Korra's own mother spent every ounce of her energy to teach her daughter the importance of being courteous and polite to everyone. If Korra made a mess in her room, she would clean up soon after if it displeased her mother. If she were to curse, she corrected herself. And if she were rude—an attention Korra's mother approached more sternly due to her stubborn personality—Korra was to apologize immediately.

But this guy was an equalist follower.

One of many keeping her restricted from outside contact.

And every time Korra made for an apology to formulate past her lips, she was stumped soon after the reminder crossed her mind.

The awkwardness in the room didn't help either. Both the guard and Amon were waiting for Korra to speak. And as if that weren't the only aura looming inside the room, then the animosity the man constantly held against Korra and Amon's initial spiritless disposition thickened the atmosphere more so.

"Speak, Korra."

Under pressure, Korra's first attempt was rushed, and as predicted, Amon wasn't pleased in the least. He told her to apologize again until he was satisfied.

Her second try was too simple.

Her third try was vague.

When Korra was beginning to think all of this was just to lower her dignity to the ground after finishing her fourth apology—another rehabilitation method to put her in place, she thought with distastefulness—she was surprised whence Amon uttered his approval to mildly satisfactory. Korra didn't care, though. Far from it, she was relieved. She couldn't stand the guard's stare anymore; her fists were practically shaking to inflict harm upon the other two occupants in the room for their detachments and lack of emotions.

"I accept the avatar's apology," was what Korra begrudgingly received despite the visible difficulty it took her to finish. She didn't dare look up to the man fully, on that note, for fear her anger will blind her into an uncontrollable rampage that will surely summon another punishment for her disobedience.

"Very good. Accept his forgiveness, young avatar."

Oh come on!

Korra threw Amon's way a pleading glance only to be given a fierce dark stare, and a firm grip on the shoulder, to continue. Huffing, Korra breathed through gritted teeth, ". . . thank you . . . Mister Ferkin."

"Very good. . . " The hold on her shoulder softened for her compliance, wandering to her back to rub over her left shoulder blade. Korra winced as the thumb added pressure to her back as it circled a relaxing massage, teasing her, yet reminding her of her situation. "You see, young avatar. We all are not completely without clemency."

Korra felt otherwise.

Who exactly do you speak of?

So far the people in charge of her were anything but kind for her stay in their headquarters. And as for Amon, Korra could never see him as anyone else without the anger he openly displayed for benders in general. So, no. Clemency never once passed for a reasonable trait amongst Amon's henchmen, or him, either.

Korra was pushed out the door, followed by Amon and the red-haired man as well, heading in a direction she did not know. But that was short lived until Korra could smell the distinct haunting aroma of cooked beef—or, even better, pork—and other sorts of goodness that was causing Korra's mouth to drool and her stomach to ache.

Amon must have smelled it, too, as he started speaking to Ferkin casually, "Jarro must have made something special for us," he noted.

"I've been meaning to ask the man myself what he planned for tonight," the other spoke as he walked up behind Korra to her right. "I will say I am going to miss the man's cooking, especially after we leave tonight."

"I confess my feelings are the same. Even the Lieutenant openly declared his taste for the man's cooking."

As the two spoke to one another, everything said after was left unheard from Korra's attention span.

Dumplings. Pork. Food. Food.

Korra's mind wandered to the numerous possibilities of what lied ahead. She couldn't remember the last time she ever smelled something so good, so enticing, and just at finger's grasp.

Her stomach growled as if it had a conscience of its own. Embarrassed and betrayed by the hunger, Korra made to silence her stomach by covering it with her hands, but it was too late. Two pairs of eyes were already darting her way.

And the one voice Korra didn't want to hear the most had to be the one to speak first.

"We are almost there, young avatar. You shall eat soon enough."

"I'm not hungry," Korra stated firmly. She crossed her arms to further solidify her statement.

She heard Amon's eyes narrow. "You will eat whether you wish to or not." He murmured coolly, saying it as a matter of fact. "In the matter of nutrition, this will not be up for debate."

"I'm not going to eat, and you won't force me under pressure this time."

"We shall see."

"It's your own fault, you know?" Oh, delightful. Korra's face scrunched as the red-head continued to speak even after Korra gave the man no indication of acknowledgement. "If you ate properly, you wouldn't be in this kind of situation."

"Thank you for clarifying that, Ferkin," she spat the intruding debater's name lowly, but regretted it after for letting him get under her skin.

"Eating something will help that nasty personality, too."

"Maybe if you stopped eating greens, perhaps there's still hope for you before you end up touching the sky," Korra returned smoothly, then added, "circus freak," to spice up her counter insult.

The man growled at that. "You really are nothing but a savage, you know that?"

Korra tried to ripped around to send the man flying into the ceiling as she snapped her white teeth at the man, "I'll show you how savage I can be, you freak!" but was easily kept in the same direction by Amon.

"Enough, I will not have you ruin lunch as well, young avatar."

"As soon as the circus freak shuts his ugly mouth, I'll—" but another eruption of impatient growling and her insides eating themselves in a gut wrenching feast was what silenced Korra's ranting. The red head smirked, his expression smug the entire way to the wherever they were going. She even heard Amon's twisted smile behind his mask. But Korra refused him yet another victory with his little mind games. She will have to look away from the food if they tried anything funny. She'll stop smelling through her nose if that was what it will. Korra didn't want Amon to constantly defeat her on a daily basis. She was tired of permitting him the victor's satisfaction in making her smaller than he, breaking her composure without hesitation and yet refrain from physical aggression at the same time, and all awhile, as he freely roamed over her body as he previously did, appear unaffected unlike Korra, who was left on the desk table melting in his presence. And those eyes, glinting with an arrogance that really pissed Korra off. The desire to escape this captivity for the pleasuring luxuries freedom afforded had now become an obsession to Korra, blazing into an utmost priority while under the custody of this madman.

Past memory snippets of her father and mother waiting for their gifted daughter to return safely in their arms were some of the few memories that fueled her obsession. Korra wondered if they knew if she was captured. She knew her mother would surely grieve as any natural parent would, as well as her father. Like she, both would cry when they thought their tears would go unnoticed by Korra when she was little. Recounting to the number of occasions her parents ever cried for her if ever things were too advanced for their daughter to withstand and they could nothing to help her in her time of need and closure, Korra was always under the impression tears were meant to be hidden and contained, because if it caused such pain for others, then why should such a morbid expression be allowed to exist. Even so, Korra will see her family soon enough, so there was no need to shed tears. She hasn't, and will never, give up.

The three proceeded into the cafeteria to what Korra figured to be more than a dozen—twice, even—equalists eating and gossiping amongst themselves, until all eyes ripped from what they were doing and watched the three new occupants make their way for tables. Most looked for a while before continue where they left, while others took noticed to the ill-dressed equalist their superior was holding, on with Amon led Korra towards where the Lieutenant was sitting. The strict man was currently speaking to a fellow acquaintance until he caught sight of the two and acknowledged his commander graciously.

"Amon, sir."

"Lieutenant," Amon greeted kindly. He sat Korra between him and another follower. The man stared at Korra for a while, suspicious she was going to try something, but when it was clear she meant no harm at the moment, he returned his attention to the woman in front of him. Ferkin, having disappeared without Korra noticing, reappeared in a blink of the eye with not only a plate of food for himself but also a plate for Korra as well. He then sat between the man the Lieutenant previously conversed with and the woman after placing the plate of food in front of Korra. Korra couldn't help but foolishly look over the food longingly. She dropped her head into her chest, enduring the twist in her stomach, ignoring the glances and agonizing stares.

"Have the arrangements been completed?"

"Yes, sir. We will depart right on schedule," the Lieutenant addressed to Amon, "But I do not wish to deter your agenda, but I was informed of a construction blockage taking place in the northern sector even as we speak."

"For how long?"

"It was difficult to say. Seven standard hours, at best, probably. We will have to take the longer route if we are to venture through the streets undetected."

Amon wasn't bothered in the least. He was more worried about the Avatar's persistence in escaping than he was of public expulsion. "No matter. This is nothing more than a minor setback."

"It is not the only one, either. Ramul was just telling me of three Republic City officers making regular rounds through South street."

He permitted his face to a perturbed expression. "Strange. For what reason?" The authorities never dwelled too far in non-bender residential locations. It was the high-class that required more protection, especially, even, when most of them were benders that could fend for themselves.

This time the man the Lieutenant spoke with earlier started to speak. "It's that Tarrlok," he rasped. "The officials arrived at my aunt's bakery believing her to be involved in equalists rallies. She can't even walk without her cane, and they think she is a threat." His shoulders started to shake, trying very hard to keep his composure in front of his superior. "They've been keeping tabs on her since last Friday, by orders of councilmen Tarrlok."

As he consoled the young man, Amon was starting to re-evaluate the council's decisions becoming more radical and desperate—especially Tarrlok, and his exceeding growth in power. Ever since his first arrival in Republic city, there was not a time when Amon couldn't see the seeping fraudulence behind the politician's façade. Amon never paid the man mind, at first, as his followers were of so few, and he himself had not been in the non-bending public's favor until now. But, as the years went on, the Water-bending representative changed, his influence over the republic have become more extreme, even after the sudden public appearance of the avatar. Nevertheless, the mere thought of the water-bender being a threat never crossed Amon's mind, for he will be equalized soon enough, along with the rest of the benders inhabiting Republic city.

"If it is the longer route that is to be our only solution, then I hold no qualms for change," Amon said at last. "We will proceed as planned."

"Very good, sir. I will notify the others immediately."

"See to it that you do," Amon approved the readjustment in their plans, and once it was settled, the untouched plate of food failed to go by unnoticed as he was about to relax and enjoy the company of his brothers and sisters. His arms slouched only slightly at notice, his aggravation for the adolescence's stubbornness increasing the more she persisted to resist him. "Is there a problem, young avatar?" His demand was low and harsh, so as not to summon upon the entire occupants in the cafeteria to witness their superior scold the stubborn teenager once more, yet.

He received: "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I'm not hungry."

Tired, and past patience, and whether the Water Tribe teenager liked it or not, Amon was going to get her to eat one way or another, even if he has to have his members hold her down while he shoved the food down her throat.

"Eat."

"I don't want to."

"You are hungry. Very soon you will become fatigued and your body will expire if you continue. By that time, the only way we can get the nutrients into your system before it is too late is by hooking you up to tubes. Is that what you want?"

The avatar's muscular body went stiff, her fallen bangs shielding her from Amon's piercing stare. When he was about to tell another, more forceful, means of getting her to eat, she said, "No."

He moved the plate closer to her, then. "Then eat."

"No," she said, much sooner this time.

He moved his face to close the gap between them, the marble smoothness of his mask touched her earlobe as the avatar caught her breath from the surprising contact. His breath heating her cold ear rumbled waves of torturous feelings down the pit of Korra's stomach, she begged for spirits sake for him to get away from her before her whole face was consumed in red.

"Don't even think about doing anything rash, little one. I will not hesitate to discipline in front of everyone."

Korra struggled to contain her dwindling strength, struggling more to keep her eyes from breaking contact from furious glare inside that black hood. "B-but . . . I fine."

She felt his breath huff in exasperation in her face, his scent mesmerizing her senses, and crinkled her nose from the rather pleasant aroma.

His lips pressed against the porcelain discouraging physical contact. "I will bend you over my lap . . . and I will strike your bottom like the child you are proving yourself to be." At that notion, Korra could feel Amon's arms creep its way towards her. That same hand that violated her chest from before, the one that caused the sickly excitement within her into a complete mess. Korra shook violently in her suit in anticipation, ignoring the cruel and husky voice continuing to drawl. "Shall I have one of my men do it in my stead? Shall I permit them to laugh and take humor in your humiliation? Overall, this will provide as a benefit rehabilitation to teach your place amongst us all. Is that what you want?"

"No," she whispered, with more strength.

"Then I highly suggest you eat what was given to you."

Korra winced towards the plate in front of her, its contents that were still untouched was still giving off steam. Her arm rose hesitantly to leave her side, rising in slow succession towards her fork, but dropped just below it to the metal surface in defeat. As her mind started thinking to what she refused to do, her heart ripped in its place, painfully struggling to jump out of her chest.

Amon's jaw clenched from the avatar's insolence, unable to contain himself as he made a grab for the teenager's shoulder. He didn't care if she was wincing at his grip. She was bringing this all on herself. Amon had hoped she would eventually see that his cause was just and right, but it seemed whatever impressions the council and Republic City imprinted in her mind poisoned her to think him as the true enemy, when in turn, they were the true cause for the worlds imbalance. Amon knew now that he will have to cleanse her then, the hard way, if necessary.

Taking notice of his superior's distress, the Lieutenant stood from his seat and walked round towards the avatar to grab her fork, scoop up some rice and pieces of meat, then shoved the food towards the persistent girl's face, commanding, "Open." Half the members were staring curiously from their previous conversations to what caused for their second-in-command to assault the avatar, while others were still too engrossed in their food to care what the avatar was complaining about this time.

To everyone's utter, Korra permitted the utensil and made to chew the food, slowly, tasting the flavors melting in her mouth, savoring the taste as means to endure, then, with as much will power she could muster before she was too consumed for her hunger, Korra spat the food in no direction in particular. The mesh of wasted food and spit flew Ferkin's way; he narrowly dodged the shot by shifting his neck to the right even as he took another bite of the slice of chicken on his plate. Korra, then, catching the Lieutenant by surprise this time—an occurrence considered to be a rare moment amongst the recruits—snatched the utensil right out of his hand and flung the piece of metal across the room. Her sudden action caused for an ominous silence, except for the clatter of metal against the wall.

Those who witnessed the avatar's act began looking for Amon to do something, in anticipation, and darkly. They watched as their leader who sat next to the disrespectful bender continued to be quiet and unaffected by her actions. Eyes were growing wider; breaths were being contained, as the air grew intense and the seconds flew by as their commander and savior against all benders slowly turned his head to the reincarnated avatar, and was about to animate until a voice erupted from within the kitchen.

"The heck is going on out there?"

An equalist attired in a stained apron produced himself from the kitchen, looking around in confusion. But when the man caught sight of the dark-skinned teenager sitting next to Amon, his previous bewilderment quickly dispersed, mumbling, "Never mind," before making himself scarce.

After the random interruption, Amon at last mobilized by nearing closer to the avatar's pained face, his grip on her muscular arm still the same.

"I am permitting you one last chance to redeem yourself." He could not help his voice from seething when he whispered in her ear. "Pick up the fork . . . or forfeit whatever shred of dignity you might still have." The ferocity in his voice told her enough where this could lead to if she didn't take the correct course of action.

Korra gulped. She frantically searched for the fork and shuddered to grab for the utensil and do as she was told. At least he wasn't going to punish her by forcing food down her throat this time. But Korra bit down on her bottom lip, feeling the pressure of gravity over her shoulders, and the staring. Korra just wanted them to stop staring at her and mind their own business.

Stop looking at me. Don't make me regret this . . .

When Amon was tired of waiting, he gave a fleeting gesture to his second-in-command. The Lieutenant lifted his arms and was about to grab at the back of Korra's neck—but halted when, as his gloved hand barely touched the stray hairs of the back of her neck, Korra's voice cracked out, "W-wait . . ." and furrowed her expression in defeat. Amon permitted her to move from her seat. Korra slowly lifted her body, which was ready to collapse on itself at any given time for what she was about to do. Carefully putting one foot in front of the other, Korra felt the nausea moisturizing over her frowning expression as she walked herself to stop where the utensil landed, crouched to collect it, and returned, with more ease this time, to stop at the edge of table where Amon sat patiently and slowly placed the fork in front of the man.

"Thank you. Now you may apologize for ruining lunch, now. You may begin when you are ready."

Korra's face went blank and pale. Her vision blurred from the stress of humiliation as she stared up to the rest of the people. She met glinting dark eyes smiling back at her, and few other stares that told her not all of them were actually enjoying the show.

Korra took the time to look over the equalists. They were people she never met before, or possibly ever conversed with before due to her status and schedule. So if she didn't know any of them, and they surely didn't really know who she really was, then why was Korra being cut through with cold and remorseless stares from all around? Some of these people were clearly older than her by many years. A part of her knew, though, that it was what she was that it was the reason for their hate, but it wasn't her fault. Her birth was entirely by fate, and not of her control. So why? Why?

Why am I so hated by such people?

Angered, and betrayed for things she never committed against these people, Korra cracked a snobbish smile that reached her ears, her eyes fairing against the rest of the people, challenging them to break her, to face her with all they have.

Korra finally spoke at last, fiercely.

"I'm so sorry that the spirits thought you lot were unworthy to be blessed with the gifts of bending and that you idiotically placed your faith in this lunatic. Spirits help you all. You leeches!"

Amon jolted from his seat and roughly snatched Korra's mouth to prevent her from speaking further aspersions against him. He then wrapped his other arm around her waist and dragged her out of the cafeteria with the Lieutenant following after them at a distance. The flailing avatar continued to insult the people and scream in a fit under the man's hand as everyone stared after the restrained teen in stupor until she could not longer see them.

When Amon was certain they were out of ear shot, he stopped in his tracks once they passed through a door and entered a room, throwing Korra to the ground, and pointed for the Lieutenant.

"You may proceed."

Korra managed a glimpse through those slits to see the fury in Amon's cold eyes, before the pain burned at her nerves as the electricity began to lick and bite at her skin. She screamed, but she would not beg for it to stop, she would not beg for mercy this time. She coiled into a ball as the Lieutenant proceeded to enact her punishment in Amon's stead. Her eyes widened, her arms lowered to keep her body from exploding, and her throat was beginning to go sore from her cries with each blow.

"Stop."

The avatar wheezed and twitched when the stick removed its touch from her side, the aftershocks were still taking their time expelling from her body, until Korra felt the last of them scatter from the tips of her fingers. She couldn't move, and it was hard to breathe, so she lied there on the floor, limp.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Korra didn't respond, not that she could. She was still coughing and trying to control her ragged breathing, let alone wording words intelligibly, until her breath eased on its own, and Korra finally found her voice. "I . . . will not . . . " she took another quick breath, "concede."

"You will, eventually. You may resist however many times you want, but keep in mind that this will not change my mind from keeping you here."

"Then take it." Korra breathed, past all this nonsense, politics, and, especially, the war. All she ever wanted was to see the city, leave that snow prison she once called a sanctuary, play pro-bending, make friends—having fun. It was too much for her now. She wanted to go home. "Take my bending, take it and let me go home."

"And turn you into a martyr? No, you will stay until you are no longer required to do so, as I said before."

"Then I'll find a way out. You can't keep track of me forever."

"Apparently I can," Amon could not help but break into a smug smile behind his mask. The man smoothed his features, quicker than Korra expected, until all traces of his anger dispersed. "Lieutenant."

"Yes, sir."

"I leave the avatar in your company for now. Remain here until we are set to leave. Do not underestimate her, and if she continues to behave unfavorably, I give you permission to discipline her."

"Understood, Amon."

Korra heard the calm steps depart from her side, then the closing of a door, but she stayed where she was, where it was safe, for now.

"Perfect. Now I'm stuck you. Had the man been anyone else, I would have declined."

Korra ignored the Lieutenant and his obnoxious voice, flipping to her stomach and made the decision to spend this moment to try to get some sleep before she had to do something else to further agitate Amon and escape. She was just happy Amon did not go through with his previous alternate punishment.

"Pathetic," he spat. "You are a bender, yet you lack the discipline and finesse of a true fighter. The spirits cursed your kind by granting the title of the avatar on your birthright."

"Shut your mouth," Korra forcibly grumbled under her arm. She clenched her eyes, hoping it would quicken the process so that she may sleep. "I'm trying to sleep."

"And whose fault is that?"

"Most certainly not mine, that's for sure."

"Oh really. Amon would have offered you a separate room had you been more reasonable in your situation. So no, little girl, it is your fault."

Korra punched into the ground hatefully as it had seemed to no end that the hate would follow her everywhere she went. "Yes! It's my fault! Everything is my fault!" she yelled at the Liuetenant, ignoring the hand gripping his weapon, and the glare she was receiving. She was done, and she wanted to be left alone already. "All of the previous wars are my fault! All the pain you people suffered is my fault! Everything that happened hundreds of years before I was even born is entirely my fault!" Tears were stinging at Korra's tired eyes as she spat her words out to no end. "Now . . . can I please get some sleep before you maniacs keep me further away from my family? Is that so much to ask for?"

Before the man could answer, or punished her for her outburst, Korra flipped back to her stomach before she could study the man's shocked face, and whimpered, curling into her chest, waiting for this nightmare to be over. She didn't care about the pain, she was tired of the humiliation. All she wanted was to go home. Now.

The Lieutenant still said nothing, she still felt his eyes glued to her back, and when she felt him move, his eyes were no longer on her but to the wall, his back to her now. He started to speak:

"If you really want to survive this, then compliance is what it will take to ensure your freedom. If you can do so, then you will be returned to your family soon enough once this is all over."

The way he spoke surprised Korra. It sounded emotional and . . . mildly soft. Not a hint of hostility spilled from his lips, and, Korra couldn't help but believe him.

That was the last time he spoke to her while they were together, and thankfully, Korra was never disturbed when her eyes fluttered to close, and she finally got some decent sleep on the concrete floor. The smoothnesss was cold against her warm skin, ironically calming her nerves with its touch to relax and lay languidly passive. It didn't take long for her to sleep. It was so quiet and peaceful. She dreamt of flying bison's and delicious food, she dreamed of those smoothies her and Bolin treated themselves to when they were venturing the streets. And when she was getting to the part where she was dancing on clouds of marshmallows with the airbender kids, Korra was awoken by a rough shake. She reluctantly opened her eyes to the same sullen background of dim orange and darkness, no longer bright colors of blue and white, up to the Lieutenant now crouching next to her, his weapons safely clasped to the battery strapped to his back, giving her a stern expression.

Korra lazily scowled up to the Lieutenant. "I was gonna eat marshmallows . . . and you ruined it," she whined, not caring how pathetic it was.

"What are you talking about? Get up. We are leaving now."

Korra pursed her lips, still feeling the after-effects of slumber, and went limp on the ground.

"Five more minutes."

"No. Get up."

"Three more minutes."

"You're acting like a four-year-old."

"Five more minutes?"

"I said no. Up."

When it was getting to the point words were getting him nowhere, the Lieutenant was left with no other option but to resentfully pick up the still-tired-avatar and walked out the door. He grumbled something out of earshot, struggling to open the door

"My, what a gentlemen," Korra couldn't help but snigger.

"Another word and I will drop you."

Korra shut her mouth only because she was still too lazy to walk on her own.

Beside her own breathing, and the sounds of the Lieutenant's footsteps made, Korra was enjoying what little peace she had left before everything hit rock bottom. Things had been nothing but loud and crazy since the day Korra was kidnapped and taken prisoner by these people, so she could never find the time when she was ever at peace in this place.

"We are here. I'm putting you down the second we're outside."

A cold welcoming breeze caressed Korra's cheek to blush and shiver, nipping at her drooping eyes to open to something she thought she would never see again.

Outside.

They were outside.

The air was fresh and free. And in the distance and from around, Korra saw the street lights illuminating through the dark blue of night, providing the metropolis a bright glory of perfection it withheld. She could make out the bustling of cars not too far away, and could smell the stores and the ocean just miles away from where she was. It was so beautiful, and painfully lovely. Korra wished to free, now more than ever, to be with her friends and family once more and share with them the beauty this city has.

Sensing the excitement in his charge, the Lieutenant sat Korra on the ground quickly, and then pushed her on her knees.

"Block her."

Two chi-blockers responded to the Lieutenants orders. Their stabs into her skin was what Korra's body, ironically, got her to finally wake up and become more aware on her surroundings. She groaned from their abuse, felt the bruises sore into her skin, and got to her feet at her own pace, lifting her head to watch Amon remove himself from a group and strode to where she and his Lieutenant stood. Despite her long absence from the outside world, the blue orbs that were her eyes were completely transfixed onto the masked man that walked toward them gracefully, the stain in the city that cannot be removed, a person who could very well be the undoing of its entire uniting existence.

Something warm wrapped around Korra whence the man was a foot away from where she was, feeling the soft expensive silk in the fabric, loose and hanging, until it tightened round her fit waist when Amon buttoned it nice and tight. The coat was, of course, as black as the night, camouflaging her existence under the darkness from unwanted eyes, and as comforting and shielding it was against the cold night air, Korra resented its ulterior purpose. When Amon raised his hand to pull over her hood, she snapped away, implicating that was as far as she would allow him to keep her hidden. His eyes frowned, but tamed.

"I hope the avatar wasn't a problem, Lieutenant."

"Manageable, to say the least, sir. The avatar was resting in your absence before I brought her."

"Interesting." Amon, amused by the avatar, looked to her now without tilting his head. "You slept well, I assume, young avatar?"

Korra grumbled, "I'm not going to make small talk with you," and narrowed.

Dejecting his concern, the rare softness in those eyes still did not fade, and Korra was patted on the head without warning.

"Don't fret. When we arrive, you will be able to sleep as much as you want."

"I'd rather sleep in my bed back on Air-Bender Island . . . than in a cell."

"Now, now, young avatar." His face twisted into something more menacing and resign, those eyes smiled at her, knowing Korra would never challenge him in front of all these people, not when she was not a fully realized avatar. "Remember what I said to you before. If you complicate these proceedings for me, or any of my followers, then I will not hold back enacting my hand against you. Do I make myself clear?" he demanded dangerously.

The intimidation in his voice worked better than he thought, as Korra swiftly nodded her head and stayed quiet, and, Amon hoped, for the rest of this trip.

"I will be in the first truck in lead, whereas you will be stationed in the second truck, safely guarded of course. And, as you may have heard already, which I assumed you did, our travel will transpire longer than intended. But, if you require anything, my brethren will assist you."

"Where are you taking me?" The avatar whispered quickly and looked at the trucks with eyes full of panic.

Amon spoke soothingly, coaxing her not to try anything now, knowing she will disobey him if she thought herself in more danger. "I don't think information like that should concern you—"

"It does," she snapped up at him. The muscular tone in her arms strained back, edging to express the emotional turmoil she was under. "I want to know where you are taking me!"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because I want to."

Amon crossed his arms and couldn't keep from smiling under his mask, completely enamored by this girl. It was hard to keep track of her, first she was readable under his pressure, completely at his whim, and then, in an instant she became a fearless heroine. That was why he had hoped by the end of all this, and once he won over Republic city; he would have gained a powerful yet tamable supporter in his campaign.

She just needs to be pushed in the right direction.

And Amon knew it was his place to do so, which he will, without a seconds thought.

"If you really want to know, then tell me why, young avatar?" His voice came out much more excited than it needed to be. He quickly fixed that effortlessly and refreshed.

"Because I want to," she repeated herself, more urgently this time, as the trucks were nearly finished with help of the Lieutenant assisting the men.

"You'll have to be more specific than that, I'm afraid."

Korra's frown deepened, frustrated by this mysterious man's stubbornness. Why was he being so difficult? Was it so compromising for him to share with her this kind of information? Korra felt it wasn't, and to her it was his way of scaring her by not telling her where he will be keeping her. He already has her riled up at his fingers, so why go further?

Without thinking, Korra couldn't help but ask, "Is it really that hard for you?" she asked him. "Telling me where you are taking me can't possibly be that bad. I mean, you yourself said so that there is nothing I can to do to escape, right? Just tell me. Please, Amon?"

Korra compressed her lips as she quietly allowed Amon to look her over, trying to read her in some way, through her eyes perhaps, or her movements, looking for any deceptions that he would later regret. He found none. And when he spoke it came out with monotone reluctance. "We are moving under a bakery deep within downtown of Republic City. Far from police activity," he added to relinquish whatever hopes he failed to detect. "And far from City Hall. I do not want this to be more problematic than it already is."

"Problematic?" Korra snorted, but the urgency driving her voice didn't come out the way she wanted it to. "If you're so worried about having a problem, then let me go."

"I will do no such thing."

Her shoulder was once again contained by his firm hand. As dangerous as it was, his arm would send her hormones into a frenzy just from physical contact. She tried to keep a straight face, trying to hide the effects his touch already had on her, but in some way, some part of her, where she herself was unaware of, there lived a part of her that didn't care if he did. And it scared he to think it was okay.

He was the enemy. A terrorist. A person who would not tarnish his constitution with the likes of a bender, he was the kind that would take his own life rather than work with a bender even if it benefitted him greatly. That is why Korra knew that when at last, if it actually happened, when Amon would take her bending, he would be rid of her once and for all, and Korra will never have to be in the same room as him ever again.

"Come now, our ride is waiting for us."

She was led to the second car, hoisted up and into the back without resisting or so much as a word escaping her closed mouth. Her eyes were stuck to the ground, her body obedient and robotic as she sat in her seat while the guards temporarily responsible for her care sat opposite to her, possibly staring curiously at her, or, most likely, not that she care much for it anymore, with hate.

The sound of fists pounding against metal echoed inside the vehicle, alerting the driver to start the car and kick it into the correct gear, then Korra felt the usual oddly movement the automobile as it drove.

Korra listened to the sounds past the metal wall blocking her from the outside world. The burning of rubber on concrete floor, hurried footings of those making their way home or somewhere else, the laughter of children, laughing, followed by a chilling cut of the winds resisting the cars direction. She could hear horns honking, music from the restaurants or possibly night clubs, and she could make out with more distinction burning smoke from bakery food markets. It was hard to imagine being cut off from the city in such a way, Korra's only means to shield her heart from her own grief was to turn around and find something to occupy her mind, fast.

With nothing to do Korra looked to the two opposite guards for amusement. One was fidgeting in his suit, tugging on the red scarf to let in air, and readjusting his helmet and goggles every now and then. The other one was still staring at her warily, stiff, cautious, like she was about to combust into fire or explode. It was bugging her so bad, Korra grumbled at him, "There a problem?" and gave him a dirty look.

"I don't know," the guard hissed. "Will there be? I don't want to see a lick of fire or any other sort of bending crap while I'm with you."

"I'm already chi-blocked," she vainly reassured. "So you have nothing to be afraid about."

"Excuse me if I don't believe a bending scum like you."

"Look, whine however you want but I'm going to meditate, if that's not too much for you to handle?" She sat down in the middle of the car and assumed a normal position, "Wouldn't want you to wet your pants."

"He probably will when you start glowing like how they said the previous avatar did all the time," the other added in, unwittingly putting both his comrade and the avatar in worse spirits. The man sent the still fidgeting equalist a punch in the arm, whereas Korra, who was too engrossed in her own sulking, didn't care to take notice.

The previous avatar, Aang, was considered to be the most spirited avatar. And he was ten years old at the time. Korra was in the prime of her seventeenth year, and during the intervals of each passing wasted year, Korra never gave off a flicker of light. Year by year, as she got older, Korra became more wiser to the importance of the spiritual side of being the avatar, but, as always, she preferred the physical attributes that came with the title. The fun attributes. Nevertheless, the White Lotus did what they could to hammer the wisdom of the spiritual rituals into Korra's head, but all in vain. She remembered at one point how she had sat in the middle of the snow meditation for six whole hours, wasting away, getting cold, all for nothing.

So, since Korra was captured, and in a major crisis, especially when she was currently in the hands of a terrorist, then perhaps she could finally make a connection with one of her previous lives.

And so she did. Remaining in her cross-legged sitting position, her hands placed over her knee caps in the meditative gesture, Korra settle her mind as best as she could while ignoring everything happening around her like she was taught, and tried to find something, anything, that would lead her to the spiritual world.

From the start of her training years, Korra was explained how the avatar was the bridge between this world and the spirit world. Maybe it was because she was more on the physical part than the spiritual part of being the avatar, or perhaps it was because she was not yet a fully realized avatar, either way, other than learning all natural elements in order, Korra was still a novice as to the spiritual tranquility of the avatar state.

But that didn't mean she was going to give any time soon.

Korra took in a deep, lanquid, breath. Regulating her breathing into calm, and tranquil, she let it go, her chest exhaling against the tight black cloat. She took in another breath, and released. Another, and released.

And just when she thought she got the hang of it, she was rudely interrupted.

"Are you glowing yet?"

Korra tried to repeat the procedure. "Only if I'm left alone."

The truck jumped up from the ground, it was so sudden Korra gave to a yelp and fell out of her position. She growled and tried to sit back to her original sitting arrangement.

"Shouldn't it be easy then," came that squeaky, curious, yet annoying voice.

Korra furrowed her brows. "Apparently not for me."

"That's a shame." The short one actually sounded sad.

"Yeah, a real shame-"

"Shut up, man. I wanna see her glow up."

"Don't be ridiculous. She tries anything funny, and we have orders to subdue her and report to Amon."

"You don't think I know that. I just want to see her go all avatar-state. That'd be cool to see."

"No, it's not."

"Sure it is, you're just too boring to know it is."

"I'm not boring, I'm mature."

"What are you trying to say? I'm not mature enough."

"Clearly."

"You know what, maybe if you didn't have that stick up your—"

"Quiet down, you two," the driver threw over her shoulder, ending what would have been a most unpleasant argument. Had she not stepped in, Korra would have. "For new recruits, you two sure are noisy."

Korra blinked, recalling the time before of her previous escape, and noticed the two guards right away. They were definite the two men from before, the ones betting from before.

"Mirri, I'm mature, right?"

The woman didn't answer. Turning the wheel, she made a steady turn to the right.

"Oh, screw you guys. I'm mature."

Even as the car was currently in motion, the short one rose from his seat and walked over to the end of the truck. He opened the back window and permitted the cold air to enter. Korra felt the breeze kiss her cheek, remembering how cold it was back at home with her mother and father.

"Fo, close the window."

"It's hot in here."

"And it is cold out there," the woman sneered. "I'm saying this one more time," she threatened. "Close the door. I hate that whistling sound open windows make when we're driving."

Fo whined. "And I hate heating up in this suit," he complained. "Seriously, it feels like a fire bender set me on fire."

"Fo! Stop complaining and sit down."

"No."

"Leave it open," Korra insisted. Right now having some nice cold air inside was refreshing against her skin.

"You don't have a say in this, bender."

"Yes, I do." Korra argued nastily. "I am a passenger, therefore, I have a say."

"No," said the man furiously, "You are a prisoner."

"Just leave the window open. It's not doing anyone any harm."

"Shut up, and do what you were doing before. Whatever it was you were doing was amusing me anyways."

Korra was offended by the guards attitude. Other than him being a non-bender, he had no right to speak to her in such a way. She was the avatar for crying out loud. And as much as a threat Amon was to the bending lineage, Korra was just the same for the non-benders. Of course, she would never inflict harm on any defenseless person, spirits no. Bu they didn't need to know that. And besides, there was always other ways to irritate her current captors.

Amon, who was, fortunately, not in the second vehicle with Korra, was sitting in the back with the Lieutenant, with several other senior officers in tow. The windows were cracked open for the fresh air to seep in, allowing the numerous scents of the cities ongoings to enter as well. A few members spoke to one another to defeat the silence, while others slept, though Amon didn't mind. He preferred his men to be comfortable, especially in his presence, which is why he made it a custom to partake the usual events with his men, whether it was eating, or practice, and, even driving through the downtown streets of Republic City.

"She better not be causing trouble back there. Are you certain leaving the avatar in the hands of two novices was the best idea, Amon?"

Amon gave his most trusted alley a reassuring glance.

"Mirri is a veteran, and has my complete faith handling the avatar."

Mirri, who was still driving the vehicle with ease, was forced to turn her head back every now, trying without crashing the car in the process to get the avatar from trying to expel her sickness in the middle of their car.

"Make her stop!"

Korra gave out to a gasp of air, giving out to sharp intakes of air as she imitated a perfect performance of what a normal person would do when they were trying to throw up. She coughed some more, then spat on the floor, and made a loud, disgusting, gagging reflex.

The other three occupants shuddered, and two of them were most likely going green in the face as they were already past the point where they threw their masks off to cover their mouths or ears.

Korra gagged, "I'm gonna—I . . . I—think—"

As she coughed and gagged loudly, Korra couldn't help but stifle a smile under her coat. She let out another, throat wrenching, convulsion, bending over to the floor for good measure.

"Take her outside! Someone do something!"

"Make her stop! Oh, spirits make her stop!"

"Fo, stop jumping around."

"I can't help it, I can't listen to this."

"Will someone please make her stop? I can't stop driving."

"Oh," Korra breathed heavily, covering her face with her hands, hiding the big smug smile from view. "I don't feel so good. The car's motion is making me feel . . . woozy."

"Mirri, how much longer before our arrival?"

"We still have a long way to go. We haven't even past the south bridge yet."

"Can we take her outside for awhile?"

"We can't. We will lose the car in front of us. I can't risk it."

Korra gave into another gagging reflex, spitting more saliva and getting the one they called Fo to start convulsing in his own sickness just by the sounds she was making. Even the woman was flinching and shivering from her imitations.

While the two guards in the back did not know what to do in this kind of situation, the car came to a complete stop.

"The bridge is rising for a passing ship. We may be here for awhile."

Korra settled for now, her hand slowly dropping from her mouth, spitting the last of her spare saliva onto the sullied metal flooring.

Everyone was calm, and for once, the car was silent as they all waited earnestly for the ship to hurry up and pass and they get to their new home.

"Are you okay? Keep your head up and put your hands over your head so that your lungs can get in more air."

Korra mentally smiled at that sentence, and made it appear that she was too weak to do so. "I'm gonna. . . I'm gonna throw—" she made it as if she finally threw up. But she wasn't the first to do so.

Fo never stopped watching her when she first started making out small coughs, but now he was gagging and tearing in the eye, and, as Korra wanted any of them to finally react, threw a little in his hand. He cried out and banged on the door. Mirri had no choice, she pooled over.

Fo would have jumped out the car whether it did or not. He ran off to the side of a deserted alleyway and vomited all over the concrete floor. The other was about to run after him as he yelled, "Not on the sidewalk," before he heard the rustling and loud movement, and without warning, while he himself was still sick in the stomach, his face came in contact with a boot. His nose crunched inside his face, it was broken, no question.

Korra leaped out and continued to send the man soaring into the air and on the floor far from where she was.

"Rumis!"

The woman jumped out the driver's seat just in time to see the escaped prisoner make her way to the opposite direction where Fo was still throwing up. And when Rumis and her ran after the avatar, Korra took them both by surprise by kicking up some dirt and soared into their faces. It burned into their eyelids, and Mirri was certain it was Rumis' who was howling in pain.

Korra stopped momentarily to see what damage she had done to the two equalists. That was a mistake.

She looked over to the car stopped in front of her transport, and saw Amon and a few other equalist behind him, watching back to where she was. As a gust of wind brushed through the scene, Korra was staring through the slits of that porcelain mask into those furious orbs. She remembered what took place that morning, what she could have lost had Amon not stopped, and what would have happened had she continued to escape from him. And right now, that was exactly what she was doing. But as she stared into those cold, and calculated eyes, she could see signs of repentance, a chance for her to stop what she was doing right now and allow herself to be restrained and avoid being punished.

She ran.

"Orders, Amon?"

Amon watched after Korra's back as she retreated into the alleyway. He was furious, more than furious, he was infuriated because of the avatar's insolence. This was the last straw. How dare she shame him in front of his men? The men who looked up to him for guidance from the cruelties of the benders. What would they think if their leader could not handle a mere teenager, ignoring the fact that she was the avatar? Amon would have none of that. He will capture her, and he will punish her to the full extent of his power.

"Capture the avatar at all cost. I want her alive, and I do not want her returned to me any other way."

He received a powerful, "Yes, sir!" from his men, and disengaged from his sight in a blink of an eye.

Korra ran down every alleyway she came across. Once, she reached a dead end, and had to double back quickly to continue down a different path. She didn't care where she was going, so long as there were people present so as to blend in—and keep the equalist following after her from doing anything dramatic to re-capture her. She turned another corner, and that was when she felt a strong, powerful, smack to her senses. She followed the scent attacking her nose, hearing more and more voices and the bustling of people as the smell grew stronger, and closer. Finally she reached an open-market place where there were more than hundreds of people currently selling and buying food and other artifacts of sorts such as necklaces and fabrics. Korra merged into the crowd trying to make herself less noticeable the deeper she ventured into the crowd, searching for people who could offer her safe haven or means to contact her friends to let them know where she was and that she was okay and she escape Amon. But there were so many people in one place that there was no need for Korra to keep her hood over her head as most of the merchants weren't paying her any concern as they walked or pushed past her. As Korra frantically continued searching for decent help, she managed a calm and collected composure for she was certain she was safe and that there was no way anyone noticed it was her.

Korra walked by a merchant, asking if he had seen Republic authorities or someone who could properly assist her. But the man gave her a questionable stare, so she left before he could give her away. She tried again in another market place, requesting a guarding child to bring her mother or father or whoever was running this section. A woman arrived this time, and told her if she wanted information then she had to buy something, but as it were, Korra had no money, so she was rejected from the place. It became clear now that no one was concerned about the problems of others and were too busy worrying about how much they can afford for things or making a profit.

There has to be someone who can help me. Anyone.

Korra merged back into the crowd to continue searching, but as she was about to ask a fish merchant a series of questions without causing for suspicion, she caught sight of several equalists jumping their way over the towering building from above like acrobats. Korra bolted from the fish market and ran into the nearest open indoor store she could find, anywhere to hide for the time being. She hid inside a sweets store as it was practically the only indoor store with an open sign still plastered on the entrance door. The door jingled at her arrival, and was immediately greeted by a pudgy short man with a big goofy smile on his face. She begged him to use his phone if he had one as she was the missing avatar escaping from the equalists and currently on the run. The man calmed her down and told her to sit down and have some sweets if she wished. Korra sat down as the man disappeared into the back. She moved behind a lollipop stand and eyed outside the window to the ever growing crowd outside.

Korra had never seen an open-market before until she was certain for sure this was what it was. It was so amazing, and crowded. Maybe when she finally escaped, she can have Mako and Bolin—or just Mako—take her back here some other time to enjoy the thrill of buying unique items for cheap.

As the sounds of heaving footsteps made their way behind her, Korra turned to accept the phone the man promised her, but was stricken frozen solid when she turned around to face not only the pudgy owner of this delicious sweet stop—but also two equalists in uniform behind the man who was now pointing at her and telling them she was the avatar.

The two advanced upon her and commanded her to come quietly. Korra, of course, refused and pushed several stands of candy their way. As the owner cried out in despair for his fallen goods, the two equalists were caught off guard and fell over with sticky candy keeping them in place as Korra made yet another daring escape from her captors. She exited the shop and ran back into the crowd, this time dashing and zigzagging around the crowd, more determined now to find someone to find her in time before it was too late.

By now the air was so cold Korra could practically see her own breath, so she stopped to rub her shoulders to regain more heat into her body, as helpful the coat was, she will part with it nevertheless, for its previous purpose left Korra to look down at herself with disheartened disposition.

Korra continued down the open-market, struggling to find her way around the people, ignoring the curses thrown at her when she had to cut in front of them to keep at her steady and fast pace. There were cars passing, too, Korra was keeping special tabs on them, watching out for those black trucks containing equalists ready to ambush her and take her back to Amon where she would surely face the consequence for her actions.

No. He will not catch me. I'll find someone.

She thought back to what Amon said, and shuddered at the thought of him ever taking advantage of her. As horribly exciting his touches left her in, the man was someone she had to fight against to keep the peace in republic city. Granted, he was a man of elegance, and poised with a charismatic character, but he was also a deranged lunatic looking for some way to end all bending, no matter how cool it for the world. But what he did to her back in his office was completely out of the question. Not a moment went by Korra didn't feel the fear surging through her body even with the excitement driving her body to answer each touch. And she could still feel the burns of his touch, raking over her form, roaming places that were not to touch unless courted, until she had begged him to stop and ceased his torture upon her figure. She didn't want to go through that again, afraid that she would not beg him to stop, but to permit him to continue.

Through the bustling people and the honking vehicles trying to cut their way through the crowd, Korra made out a man clad in metal clothing with a wiring backpack strapped to his back, even the helmet was not hard to distinguish from the crowd. Korra did not hesitate to run towards the man, trying to call out to him to turn around.

When the man was about to turn around, perhaps hearing her pleas for him to help her, Korra ran into a figure cutting her path from the police man. She fell to the ground on her butt, and groaned to look up at the bastard who rudely got in her way.

Korra almost shrieked when she saw Ferkin looking at her with that same hate-filled glare he always gifted her. He was currently in a cloak, hiding his uniform from the public view, whether they were bothered by his looks or not.

"Come quietly, young avatar. Amon has sent me personally to send you a message if you surrender to me peacefully, then he will ignore your escape attempt and refrain from punishing you."

"I'm not sorry when I say I must turn down his offer. I'm going home."

Korra rose onto her feet with ease and assumed the normal stance of combat, ready to defeat this man to get to the police officer.

"I'm warning you, avatar. Don't be a fool—"

Three children of no more than a few years of age fabricated from the chaotic crowd with a box of sweets in their possessions. Looking up two strangers that were, to them, speaking to one another and nothing more, they revealed their offerings and asked if they would have liked to buy something. Neither party spoke, until Korra somberly told the children she had no money at the time—but was assisted by an unlikely individual. Ferkin produced two papers from within the confines of his cloak, accepted the candy, and thanked the children. In turn, the children laughed and smiled and thanked the man and woman for buying their products. While Ferkin was attempting to shoo the children away as passively as he could, Korra noticed his distress, thanked the children herself, and walked farther around to where the police officer was. She heard Ferkin cry out for her to stop, but Korra proceeded past him as if she did not hear him and hurried behind the police officer just in time before he could enter a vehicle and drive away from her.

Korra took one final look over her shoulder, and saw the space Ferkin has previous occupied had been engulfed in the crowd, and the children dispersed as well. She turned back and started tugging at the man, yelling at him to turn around. "Excuse me, police officer!"

The man hissed when he rounded to look at who was bugging him so late in the hour, and met blue desperate orbs, greasy chocolate hair, fair skin of an exotic dark tone, and a very alluring figure for a teenager to possess, very attractive, and very keen.

"What's botherin' you kid, I'm busy."

Korra ignored the small slurs his words would make, and confessed to him the situation she was in and that she was the avatar. As she told him what had happened before, the man's face twisted from lethargy to horror. He snatched her in his car, and drove out the crowd much more easily than most other cars Korra witnessed before, turning into a street a little ways apart from the havoc that was south street, and parked behind corner. The man began to ask her numerous questions and demanded to know if this were some kind of game.

"Look I've seen this before. You kids are always hopped up on sugar—or hooch—you better not be drunk! How old are you, anyhow?"

"I'm not drunk! I'm telling the truth! The equalists kidnapped me and I managed to get away. I can tell you where they are hiding if you take me to Chief Lin Beifong."

She watched helplessly as the man was still not convinced despite her continuous pleas and evidence. In fact, nothing she said was getting through to him, every now and then his eyes would lose focus, his breath smelled vile and putrid if he moved too close for comfort, and his hand would grasp the driver's seat for support when he started to fumble with his words. And the way he was looking at her with her eyes, it was creepier than Amon's stare. She snapped her fingers in front of him and tried to get him back on track with her, but it ended not in her favor.

To both of their surprise, Korra's wrist was easily snatched into the man's gloved hand. "How much?"

"What?" Korra tried to rip her hand away, as the man moved out of the driver seat and trying to get on top of her. "What are you doing?—"

"How much for service? Police work don't come cheap, yah know," he slurred. His other hand was trying to find something else to grab on, it didn't matter what. "If you get where I'm getting at?" He cackled loosely at that, something he must have said, but Korra wasn't laughing, she was panicking under the drunken officer.

"Let me go! You don't realize we could be followed—"

"—and you don't realize how hot ya are, little doll.—"

"Stop it!"

"Get any good company while you were with them—learned anything interesting?"

"Nothing you would define as interesting! Get. Off. Of. Me!"

Reflexively, Korra threw his way a punch to knock him off his current seating, a fireblast to make him regret his actions and insight that she wasn't some little doll that couldn't handle herself. But the lick of flames that usually birthed from the palm of her hand did not come, Korra remembered what happened before she left in the truck, and the handicap was quickly taken noticed.

"Not a bender are yah? You not even the avatar, just some gal trying to get a few knots polished, huh?"

The officer, by this time, did not deem her a threat to him, and proceeded to roam her body with a bestial rhythm, drunken under perverted intentions.

"Get off of me!" Struggling her leg between their space, her foot kicked into his plated chest and sent him back in the driver's seat.

Korra jumped out of the backseat and out the vehicle, back to the outside cold, where it was dark and dangerously away from the lights and the crowds. She landed onto the ground, scrambling to regain her footing and run away from the man—but was stopped by a few pairs of feet blocking her vision from the lights and the people. Korra lifted her neck, and gasped to the sight of possibly a dozen of uniformed equalists.

Korra crawled backwards to the car, calculating the time it would take to make back to the safety of the crowd and away from these terrorists. And after a moments evaluation, the odds of her making it weren't exactly in her favor.

The officer struggled out of the car, looking for Korra, then to the equalists with an astonished expression, before sending their way whips of metal and boulders to set them all spiraling. He knocked a few off their feet, sent another one into the wall with a sickening crack, and managed to contain two more in metal bindings. It was a surprise that the man could accomplish this when he was drunk off his hat. Korra made for a turn and collided into an equalist trying to get away from a whip smacking against his back and straight into a collision into the avatar to the ground. The two were up on their feet, and another battle ensued. The equalist maneuvered his way around Korra's kicks and punches, trying to get a puncture, but was pushed back from inflicting damage from Korra as well. Another whip spiraled its way towards them aimlessly. The equalist took the opportunity to sneak up on the unsuspecting avatar trying to dodge the whip, and punctured a spot that rendered her entire left arm immobile. Korra screamed, but she pressed on, dropped to the ground, and chopped the guy of his footing to the land ungracefully to the ground, and met his face with her fist that knocked him out in seconds. She made for one final escape into a nearby park, ignoring the police officers cries as he was being subdued by more equalist that were also heading Korra's way.

Korra ran as far as her legs could take her, running away from the safety of the public crowds, and into a quiet and secluded park. She snuck into the bushes, trying to get a flicker of light to ignite from her un-tampered arm, until at last, when Korra was beginning to think all hope was lost, a spark of burning fire erupted and warmed her heart from the darkness.

I have to signal someone. There has to be some place high enough for me.

Korra looked around from her hiding place, deceptively out of the chi-blockers sight, until she saw a tall water fountain down in the middle of the park.

Korra licked her dry lips, watching patiently for the blockers to leave her place, then, with their backs turned, she made for run to the fountain. Korra didn't stop, she never stopped running. It felt so good to run, too. To be outside, in the fresh air, where home was. Korra could not lose this opportunity. She jumped as far as her legs were trained to handle, landing successfully on the top of the fountain and sent to the skies the biggest flare she could muster. She sent more and more, ignoring the footsteps heading her way, ignoring the orders to stop and surrender, and keeping her eyes glued to the police blimp now flying in her direction.

There was a spark of ripping air, and a hiss of uncontrolled energy, as the Lieutenant jumped in the air and batted his electrified kali stick into Korra's stomach, knocking her off her perch and into the waters. Korra cried out and tried to get up, but felt a large weight crashing into her with the waters. She struggled against the man trying to restrain her, and reduced her attacker into a howling mess when she punched him square in the face. She scurried out of the water and dashed to the nearing blimp to save her in time. She screamed for them, waving her hands out to them—but tripped on her own two feet when her boots were coiled together by wrappings. Korra tried to rip them off, kicking and screaming, crawling towards the blimps lighting through the streets in search of the person who sent out the distress signal.

But it was too late, for as soon as Korra was about to reach her arm into the light drawing near her destination, she was pulled away from its course and back into the hands of the equalists. Before she could send a series of flames and earth to her enemies, her arms were subdued at her sides, blocked mercilessly until her body went numb and immobile. Korra moaned helplessly as she felt feeling escape her body, and was dragged to where Amon was waiting for her.

If looks could literally kill, Korra would be dead where she stood when she looked into the hood.

With her arms raised in the usual manner, Korra was forced to witness, like her, the drunk police man brought before Amon in a similar prostration like she. She watched him raise his hand in the air, lowering it slowly to permit the man to make any final farewells he held for his beloved bending, before his thumb touched over his forehead. The man wailed, then moaned, and then fainted. He was carried away once Amon finished, patting his hands together as he twisted to his Lieutenant. They spoke for what felt like hours, Korra's arms were just now getting feeling back. She tried to see where they had taken the officer, but the people that dragged him away were long gone consumed by the nights darkness, as was her last chance of escape with the police blimp, it was long gone by now, it must have returned to the more populated sectors of Republic City.

Her captors brought Korra back to where the two vehicles parked away. She was thrown in the car like a ragdoll, left alone for a moment, but accompanied by Amon for the guard's absence. He twisted around only slightly to those who were outside and ordered:

"Leave us both. Make sure there are no witnesses. Dispose them if necessary, otherwise, perform the usual."

The intensity in his voice had them left alone in a matter of seconds. No one questioned the man why he wanted to be alone with the avatar. And no one gave a second's look back to the subdued avatar about to be punished.

Amon started walking towards Korra after closing the door and shutting the only window in the back, still quiet, his face glaring at her in a way that Korra couldn't stop herself from shivering in fear.

Korra lifted her handsome shoulders, shrinking into herself, fearing what he was about to do, stifling: "I'm sorry—" before everything turned horribly that night.

With the inhuman speed the man possessed with his unnatural gift, Amon fisted a handful of her hair and forced her to her feet as he tore her from the ground with an animalistic tug. Korra cried out, echoeing her cry of pain inside the sealed vehicle, and whimpered as she tried to pry his hand from ripping out her hair, barely keeping her footing as only her toes touched the ground the more Amon lifted her off the ground with only his right arm.

"You will not be given mercy this time, avatar! Not this time!"

He threw Korra into the flooring, and crashed her body with his before she could whimper a moan from impact. All she felt was complete and utter heat when her face suffocated in his chest, his scent now stronger more than ever, hazing her senses and causing her to fall under a drunken delusion. With what little she could do, Korra moved her legs to get under him and kick, and tried to claw on his back as he moved closer. His mask pressed against her cheek, its cold texture sending electrical sparks against her flustered face, and his hot breath down the nape of her neck forced out desperate moans and strangling gasps. She continued to claw helplessly until it was no use and dwindled to fisting the back of his coat.

She could feel the muscles hiding under her fabric, the strength he hid behind his clothes after her struggling depleted underneath him. The thought of his body possibly being handsome and worthwhile did not completely diminish the disgust she harbored for this man as a person. But, if this was to proceed, and Amon was going to rip her of her innocence, at least he wasn't in that bad of shape for her. Not that she really had a preference; such corrupted thoughts never crossed her mind before until now. Such distracting thoughts of mingling with another man were of little importance compared to training as a full-fledged avatar. Korra didn't have time for that sort of subject. Even with Mako, all she could really imagine the two of them doing was kissing in her make-believe-relationship.

But never this.

Her vision blurred as Korra felt her head go light-headed, unable to process this situation was actually happening. Amon had always been true to his word, Korra knew that already. He wasn't hesitating this time, his handling of her body moved without confliction, there was no mercy, no remorse. Korra teared, and managed a small, helpless yelp when he made a sudden shove against her form.

"You reacting naturally. That is good."

Those big, awful hands slid beneath the fabric after disrobing her of her cloak, making quick work of her bindings, and exposing her in the same manner as before. Korra could do nothing. His arms were at either side above her shoulders, and his hips had her straddled, keeping her legs in place.

No. no. no.

Knowing that this would be it, Korra turned away from what was happening before her, clenching her eyes shut. But Amon would not allow her. He snatched her chin as his other hand proceeded to free her muscular arms from their sleeves, forcing her to face him which was just an inch away as she could feel and smell his breath against her face.

"Do I frighten you so?"

Her eyes would not relent, she refused him the satisfaction to look into her eyes and see the fear.

"Or do I excite you?"

A finger crept its way up her stomach, feeling the disciplined muscle under soft, shivering skin.

"Or . . . perhaps it is a bit of both," he mused, teasing her skin all the more by his breath against her craning neck as he adjusted her body to a pleasing exposure. "Had it not been I who will have this honor, then any other man would be a fool not to take their time as I am about to do. I will make this as slow and painful as I can perform."

Korra whimpered.

"Do you have something you wish to say? You are permitted to speak you mind, though, it would appear your body is already speaking for you."

"I . . . "Korra could feel her will giving way, withering the more the coldness in the back of the truck bit against her body. "I . . . I don't want this."

"Yes you do."

"No, I don't. Please—"

"I warned you before what I would do if you continued to try anything, didn't I? Yet you continued to disobey me," Amon growled, his voice coming out fiercely, like an animal trying to contain itself from devouring its meal. Korra could feel his body rumble as his rage intensified. She cried and flinched violently when his fist punched the metal next to where her head was close by. "I was merciful before, but now I see it will take more than mere threats to get through to you. I did not wish for this, Korra. I truly do not." It was the truth. Even when his body proceeded without pause, the sincerity and broken truth slipped out in a rasped murmur. "If anything I wanted you to understand that it is by my side where you belong if this world is to achieve the 'perfect balance' you so vividly hoped to achieve in your predecessor's place."

Korra froze at once. "Yes. I want peace," she struggled to scream, to fight the white fog misguiding her body's actions. "But not with you! Your ways are wrong, and evil. You are a monster, and I want nothing to do with you!"

"If you truly want nothing to do with me," his hand ripped her of her remaining clothes. His eyes feasted upon her as Korra was unable to do nothing to stop him. "Then why do you react to me in such ways?"

So he does know. Korra strained her eyes to keep focus, coughing against the lump in her throat from screaming and denying his statement. But what good would it do? The evidence was clear. Her body was reacting to him without her permission.

"Shall we proceed then, young avatar?"

Hearing the clatter of buckles unhooking from their bindings from below her stomach, Korra was going to return to punching and thrashing before it was too late. She was not going to give in easily, he will never break her.

All of a sudden, as Amon was about to interfere with her innocence when her punches were proved futile, there came a harsh, hastened, and rather, worried tone.

"Amon. Republic city police are coming this way. We need to leave!"

If ever there was a time when Korra felt her luck had finally abandoned her, then she was truly, undeniably, grateful for her own wrong assumption.

Amon redressed Korra fast, donning her cloak and re-affixing those baggy sleeves that made her feel uncomfortable. When she was properly re-fitted to his liking, Amon unsealed the back doors and ordered his men to return. He gave out orders quickly, returning after to grab Korra by the arm and push her back to the floor with his foot over her head and keep her there. The Lieutenant jumped in, closed the door, and sat opposite to them as he was the final passenger to accompany them as the car started to live and drove.

Korra tried to re-adjust her head to look for any more occupants, but saw none in time before she felt Amon's foot push her head deeper into the floor. She whimpered.

"Do not move unless I order you to."

His foot smashed her ear against her cranium, causing more pain to her head. Korra bit down on her lip so as to not exploit more cries of pain. His foot continue to try to squish her head, and when she couldn't take it anymore, she whimpered:

"Yes."

"Good."

Korra didn't move a muscle, even as the automobile jumped if the road turned into a bumpy route now and then. She didn't speak, didn't mobile her arms or legs, as the foot planting over her head stayed in place, its pressure the same.

The drive was quiet and did not make any unnecessary stops this time. Neither of the men above her spoke a word. Sometimes she would catch the Lieutenant taking several glances to her, but she could never be sure whether it out of concern or to make sure she wasn't doing anything.

When the drive finally ended, and the foot removed itself from Korra's head, her arm was collected once more and dragged back outside. Amon pushed her out, jumping after, then the Lieutenant, wordlessly handling her without care into the back of a tall building. He lead her up a flight of stairs after making conversation with two equalist walking down a different set of stairs, always close to her, slowing down so often when he spoke to his Lieutenant, but make no mistake to let go of her arm. At some point, when they finished the last set, Korra was shoved inside a room.

Korra stumbled inside and was expecting to look for a cell with the restraints to hold her down-instead she found the complete opposite. Off to the side of a large oval open window displaying a beautiful view of the city there was a huge queen bed. There were two sets of velvet red couches that was down a few steps with a rectangular table in the middle, and to her left was a another table with normal three dark-brown chairs to match and a small kitchen area near the end of the corner. Overall, the place looked neat and much more luxurious than what she used to sleep in before they moved.

If this is my room . . . well, I wouldn't know whether to thank these people or not. Thats for sure.

She turned around waiting for Amon to follow with guards to protect her. But Amon remained at the door speaking to his Lieutenant in hushed whispers.

"Are you sure?" she thought Lieutenant's formulated in a questionable tone.

She heard Amon nod. "I am. You quarters are below, so she will not be able to get by so easily as before. Sleep well."

He received a heart-filled gesture in return, then closed door, and turned back to Korra to grab at her. Wordlessly obeying him so as to not tempt him to continue where they left off, Amon led Korra to a rather large bed. She gave it a dumb look, unsure of what Amon wanted her to do. He helped her.

"Sleep. It is very late. And I am sure you are very tired, as I am."

Before she could question him, she was pushed lazily onto the bed. Korra regained herself to look for Amon walking to the other side of the room, watching his back carefully as he inspected papers splayed about on the table on the other side with a freshly lit candle to better see their contents. He sat on the chair and continued to organize the, too engrossed to pay any notice to the avatar staring after him dumbly, waiting for the man to finish what he was doing and leave her to enjoy the peacefullness of this room.

Wasn't he going to leave soon? I'm getting tired of waiting. Go away. Go away, you.

"When I turn around—"

Korra didn't wait for him to finish his sentence. She discarded her robe after pulling apart the bindings, scrambled underneath the soft coverings, then clamped her eyes shut, forcing sleep before she could displease the man more so in one day, and perhaps lose her privilege with this room. It wasn't that difficult. The bed was so soft, the blankets were warm as she nestled inside the collected heat underneath, and the pillows were big and fluffy as it tickled her skin, Korra hummed and smiled as slumber came to her much quicker than usual.

Amon watched off to the side as the avatar's eyes fluttered and her breaths slowed evenly and steady in a rather rapid turn. When he was certain she was indeed asleep, he quietly walked to the side of his occupied bed, collected the cloak and hanged it properly. He then returned to where his papers were, writing what he needed to sign, and threw himself rather uncharacteristically onto his large, of similar soft, couch after pinching the flicker of the candle stick out.

It didn't take long for him to follow after the avatar in slumber, forgetting the hate, and grief, as it all drifted from his very existence and Amon could bask in what he could shamelessly call paradise.

---

And that is that. Whew, that was a lot. Oh my goodness, that was fun to write though, I'm not gonna lie. I just hope it doesn't come off as too rushed. It was fun. And I have no regrets with this delicious taboo. I love those two, especially when Amon 'saves' Korra in episode nine. I was surprised, on the other hand, when he bargained with Lin for the avatars location in exchange for her to keep her bending. No offense, but that was a bit out of character if you ask me. The guy wants equality, so there should be no exceptions no matter the situation, unless he was going back on it later.

Anywho, so again, more characters of my own. I do hope I've kept to the characters so far, especially Amon, Korra, and the Lieutenant( who isn't bald after all. He's got a full crop of hair. Yay!)

Oh man, I really hope I didn't do a crappy job. To be honest, I did have fun with this chapter, but it felt like I didn't do a good job. Sorry if this wasn't to your liking. I promise to do better in the next chapter for sure.

Give me some feedback, tell me what you think, and just enjoy all that is holy of LOK.

Heheh . . . jeez.

Please review! :)